Bevacizumab to combat EGFR-TKI resistance in a patient with advanced non-small cell lung cancer harboring an EGFR mutation: A case report

Abstract

Treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) is the first-line strategy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR-activating mutations. Acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs is inevitable in patients receiving EGFR-TKI therapy. Treatment with bevacizumab can induce a marked improvement in the overall and progression-free survival of patients with NSCLC; however, the effect of bevacizumab on TKI resistance in patients with NSCLC with an activating EGFR mutation is largely unknown. The present study reports the case of a patient with advanced, metastatic lung adenocarcinoma harboring 19 Del mutations, and who developed resistance to afatinib. The addition of bevacizumab to afatinib treatment was shown to overcome the acquired TKI resistance in the patient, as well as to promote an improved outcome for her brain metastases.